Resilience framework for local action against climate change in Morocco

Thu, 07 Mar 2013

The Environment Observatory of the Tangier-Tetouan Region, along with the non-governmental organization GERES and other partners in Morocco, organized last 25-28 of February 2013 a Seminar entitled "Climate Change Adaptation and fight against fuel poverty in the region Tetouan Tangier ". The seminar allowed the SEARCH project partners in Morocco (IUCN-Med, University of Tetouan and the Association Talassemtane de l’Environnement et de Developpement) to present the results of the project, including the analysis of climate change vulnerability in pilot areas and the methodology defined for the project on building resilience.

Photo: IUCN

SEARCH is a three year regional project working in five countries (Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon), funded by the European Union, to develop and pilot a resilience framework for local action planning capacities and methodologies to increase climate change resilience through joint learning, planning and testing by stakeholders through demonstration sites. Regional project is coordinated by IUCN Regional Office of West Asia.

Water basin of Oued El Kebir in Morocco, located upstream of the dam Martil was chosen as a pilot site, taking into account various criteria relating to its strengths and vulnerabilities. It includes six rural communes. Indeed, the vulnerability of local populations is marked by their dependence on ecosystem services. Livelihoods are largely based on resources affected by climate risks and depleted by over-explotation. Older women are the most vulnerable, however young women show more socioeconomic dynamic, they arrive to organize themselves into associations or cooperatives and to adopt the exploitation of certain resources neglected by men.

Impacts related to climate risks are diverse according to local population and a range of partners consulted. The most important are related to lack of access to water, soil erosion and landslides. In the context of different participatory workshops six adaptive strategic alternatives were proposed related mainly to water, energy, transport and capacity building for local institutions.